DAY 01  :  ARRIVE DELHI
Arrive Delhi in the evening. Upon arrival, you shall met & assisted with your baggages at the airport by our executive and transferred to your prebooked Hotel.

DAY 02  :  DELHI
After breakfast, full day city tour of Delhi : India’s capital & a major gateway to the country, contemporary Delhi is a bustling metropolis which successfully combines in its fold the ancient & the modern. Its strategic location was one of the prime reasons why successive dynasties chose it as their seat of power. New Delhi also reflects the legacy the British left behind . The division between New & Old Delhi is the distinction between the capitals of the British & the Moghuls respectively. So, wherever the visitor goes, he will invariably confront the citys’ past.

Visit Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Built by Shah Jahan, the construction was started in 1844 and was not completed until 1658; drive past Red Fort, which was also built by Shah Jehan. This massive fort was built from 1638 to 1648; Chandni Chowk and Rajghat - the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi.  Visit Humayuns Tomb : built in mid 16th century this is an early example of Mughal architecture; Qutab Minar, drive past India Gate, President House, Connaught Place. The tour ends with a visit to Laxmi Narayan Temple.

DAY 03  :  DELHI - JAIPUR                             (260 Kms., approx. 05 hrs. drive)
Early Morning, transfer to Amritsar railway station to board Shatabdi Express, scheduled to depart at 0510 hrs. Arrive New Delhi at 1110 hrs.
and drive to Jaipur - The Pink City  :  Jaipur needed a fresh coat of paint to welcome its distinguished guest the Prince of Wales in 1905-6. The contractor inability to supply any other color in the required quantity compelled the choice of pink shade for its walls. A contractor’s compulsion famed Jaipur to Pink city. Since then the PINK color is associated with hospitality in Rajput culture.   The capital city of the state of Rajasthan owes its name, its foundation and planning to the great warrior astronomer Maharaja Jai Singh II. The city of Jaipur has broad avenues & sits on a dry lake bed in a wild and somewhat arid landscape, surrounded by barren hills surmounted by fortresses and crenellated walls.          Upon arrival, check-in at prebooked Hotel.     

DAY 04  :  JAIPUR
After breakfast, excursion to Amber Fort enroute witness the façade of Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds which was built in 1799.

Amber Fort - The ancient capital of the state until 1727 when Jai Singh decided to move from his hillside fortress at Amber to new site on the plains. The construction of this fort began in 1592 by Raja Man Singh, the Rajput commander of Akbar’s army. The fort is a superb example of Rajput architecture, stunningly situated on a hillside and overlooking a lake which reflects its terraces and ramparts. Visit the Jagmandir or the hall of victory glittering with mirrors, Jal Mahal & temple of Kali. Ascend on elephant back, the hill, on which the fort is situated.

Afternoon, city tour of Jaipur. Visit the Jantar Mantar – the observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh II in 1728 ; the City Palace which is a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. It also has a museum with an extensive collection of art, carpets, paintings, enamel ware and weapons dating back to the 15th century.

DAY 05  :  JAIPUR - RANTHAMBORE
Morning, drive to Ranthambore - Located at the junction of the Aravalli and Vindhya hill range, this is one of the finest places to view animals, especially as they are used to being stared at here.The park covers an area of Approximately 400 sq Km and if combined it with the area of sawai man singh sanctuary area, it is around 500 Sq. km. Ranthambore national park was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1957 and in 1974 it gained the protection of "Project Tiger".  It got it's status of a National Park in 1981.   Ranthambore National Park is dotted with structures that remind you of bygone eras.  There are many water bodies located all over the park, which provide perfect relief during the extremely hot summer months for the forest inhabitants. A huge fort, after which the park is named, towers over the park atop a hill. There are many ruins of bygone eras scattered all over the jungle, which give it a unique, wonderful and mixed flavour of nature, history and wildlife.  Tigers at Ranthambore National park have been known to even hunt in full view of human visitors. These tigers are famous for being seen in the daytime too, due to their lack of fear of human presence in vehicles. This lack of fear of humans is excellent for tourists, as they get to see the tigers often.  This National park is a wildlife enthusiast and photographer's dream. It offers excellent accommodation and internal transportation facilities. The park remains open every year from October to May. Famous for the exciting and frequent tiger sightings captured dramatically in several books, this park is today affected by ecological pressures and poaching.  In Nutshell, Ranthambore National park is a wildlife enthusiast and photographer's dream.

DAY 06  :  RANTHAMBORE
Morning and afternoon, Jungle Safari to witness the wild life.  The Park contains a huge variety of animals, birds and reptiles within it. Primarily the population consists of... Animals : Tigers, Leopards, Striped Hyenas, Sambar deer, Chital, Nilgai, Common or Hanuman langurs, Macaques, Jackals, Jungle cats, Caracals, Sloth bears, Black bucks, Rufoustailed Hare, Indian Wild Boar, Chinkara, Common Palm Civets or Toddy cat, Coomon Yellow Bats, Desert Cats, Fivestriped Palm Squirels, Indian False Vampires, Indian Flying Foxes, Indian Foxes, Indian Gerbilles, Indian Mole Rats, Indian Porcupines, Longeared Hedgehogs, Ratels, Small Indian Mongoose, Small Indian Civets and Common mongoose.  The amphibian species only consist of the Common India Toad and the Common Frog. The park is most famous for it's diurnal tigers.  The park also has a large number of marsh crocs Reptiles: Snub Nosed Marsh Crocodiles, Desert Monitor Lizards, Tortoise, Banded Kraits, Cobras, Common Kraits, Ganga Soft Shelled Turtles, Indian Pythons, North Indian Flap Shelled Turtles, Rat Snakes, Russel's Vipers, Saw-scaled Vipers and the Indian Chamaeleon.

DAY 07  :  RANTHAMBORE - BHARATPUR (TRAIN) - FATEHPUR SIKRI - AGRA
Morning, transfer to Sawai Madhopur railway station to board Jan Shatabdi Express, scheduled to depart at 0710 hrs.  Arrive Bharatpur Station at  0925 hrs.,  proceed to - the world over renowned Keoladeo Ghana National Park or-as many people prefer to call it-the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. It lies between two of India's most historic cities, Agra and Jaipur. This north Indian sanctuary is situated in the country's northwestern state of Rajasthan, about 190 km from the national capital of Delhi.  Bharatpur hosts a variety of bird species from across the globe. Close to 380 species of birds are found in this 29 sq km stretch, approximately 10 sq km of which comprises of marshes and bogs. Rest of the area comprises of scrublands, grasslands and more than 44,000 trees that are used for nesting by birds each year. This rather intriguing blend of marshes, woodland and flora found here represents and, at the same time, substantiates the density and diversity of the region's forest cover.    (Note  :  Ranthambore - Bharatpur train does not operate on Sunday)

Continue drive to Agra, enroute visit the abandoned Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri : 37 kms before Agra, built predominantly in Red Sandstone by Emperor Akbar in 1569, was the old capital of the Mughals, which was abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. Witness the graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal & other Palaces which are still preserved in its original glory.  Arrive Agra in the evening and checkin at prebooked Hotel for overnight stay.

DAY 08  :  AGRA
At Sunrise, visit the highlight of the tour - The Taj Mahal - Epitome of Love, One of the Seven Wonders of the World - was built by Shah Jahan (King of the World) for his beloved Begum Mumtaz Mahal (the exalted of the Palace).  Work on the mausoleum began in 1633 and 20,000 workers laboured for 17 years to build it. The most skilled architects, inlay craftsmen, calligraphers, stone-carvers and masons came from all across Indian and lands as distant as Persia and Turkey. The master mason was from Baghdab, an expert in building the double dome from Persia, and an inlay specialist from Delhi.  The marble, India's finest was quarried at Makrana near Jodhpur, Jasper from Punjab, the garnets from Bundelkhand, Jade & Crystal from China, Turquoise from Tibet, Lapis from Afghanistan and Ceylon, Chrysolite from Egypt, Amethyst from Persia, Agate from Yemen, Malachite from Russia, Diamonds from Golconda and Mother of Pearl from the Indian Ocean. Mumtaz Mahal’s final resting-place was ornamented like a queen’s jewel-box. 

NOTE : TAJ MAHAL CLOSED ON FRIDAYS

Visit Red fort, Built principally as a military establishment by Akbar in 1565, the red sandstone Agra fort was partially converted into a palace during Shah Jahan's time. Though the principal structure was built by Akbar, many more additions were made by his grandsons. This massive fort is 2.5 kms long and is considered as the predecessor of the Delhi Red fort.  The maze of courtyards, mosques, palaces, gardens, halls of private & public audience of the fort echo the story of the Mughal Empire.

Itmad-ud-daulah, which was constructed by Nur Jahan between 1622 and 1628 and is very similar to the tomb she constructed for her husband, Jehangir, near Lahore in Pakistan.

Afternoon, leave for Delhi enroute visit Sikandra - Four kilometers from Agra is the mausoleum of Mughal Emperor Akbar. This structure is a perfect blend of Hindu, Christian, Islamic, Buddhist, Jain motifs. The tomb has three-storey-minarets on its four corners. These minarets are built in red sandstone with stunning inlay work of marble.

Afternoon, free for individual activities.

DAY 09  :  AGRA - JHANSI (Train) - ORCHHA - KHAJURAHO
Morning, transfer to the railway station to board Shatabdi Express, scheduled to depart at 0810 hrs. for Jhansi.
Arrive Jhansi at 1024 hrs., transfer to Khajuraho, enroute visit Orchha - meaning a "hidden place", certainly lives up to its name.  Languishing amid a tangle of scrubby dhak forest, 18km southeast of Jhansi, the former capital of the Bundela dynasty.  It possesses an imposing fort, dating from the early 17th century, which contains a number of palaces and other historic buildings. The most noteworthy of these are the Raja Rammandir, a massive square building of which the exterior is almost absolutely plain; and the Jahangirmahal, of the same form but far more ornate, a singularly beautiful specimen of Hindu domestic architecture. Numerous cenotaphs dot the vicinity of the fort and the Betwa river. Elsewhere about the town exist fine temples and tombs, among which may be noticed the Chaturbhuj temple built on a vast platform of stone.

After the visit, continue drive to Khajuraho - The city was once the original capital of the Chandela Rajputs, a Hindu dynasty that ruled this part of India from the 10th to the 12th centuries.  Upon arrival, check-in at prebooked Hotel.

DAY 10  :  KHAJURAHO
After breakfast, visit the temples of Khajuraho : A World Heritage Site  :  The Khajuraho temples were built over a span of a hundred years, from 950 to 1050.  There were originally over 80 Hindu temples, of which only 22 now stand in a reasonable state of preservation, scattered over an area of about 8 square miles (21 km²). They were rediscovered during the late 19th century and the jungles had taken a toll on some of the monuments.  Both internally and externally the temples are richly carved with excellent sculptures that are frequently sensual and, at times, sexually explicit. The temples are divided into three complexes—the western is the largest and best known, containing the magnificent Shaivite temple Kandariya Mahadev, a 31m high agglomeration of porches and turrets culminating in a spire.

Afternoon, free for individual activities.

DAY 11  :  KHAJURAHO - BANDHAVGARH
After breakfast, drive to Bandhavgarh National Park - the former hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Rewa and at present is a famous natural hub for White Tigers. It is one of the finest national park in the India and has the distinction of harboring the highest concentration of tigers per unit area of forest. The Park is spread over on area of 448 sq km with a cross area of 105 sq km. At the center of the park is the Bandhavgarh hill, rising 811 meters above sea level and surrounding it are a sloping valleys. It has an unspoilt national habitat for a variety of wildlife peculiar to the area. These includes gaur (Indian bison), sloth bear, leopard, porcupine, wild boar, sambhar and spotted deer, among others and of course, the tiger along with some 250 species of birds including Peacock, Paradise fly catchers, Jungle Fowl, Golden and Black headed Orioles, Yellow Ioras, Red-vented Bulbuls, Blue Jays, Purple Sunbirds, Green Barbets and Mynahs.

Afternoon, Jungle Safari

DAY 12  :  BANDHAVGARH
Morning & Afternoon, Jungle Safari.

DAY 13  :  BANDHAVGARH - KANHA
Early morning, Jungle Safari

After breakast, drive to Kanha - Located in the Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh, Kanha national park cum Tiger reserve extends over an area of over 1,940-sq-kms. The major feature of this region's interesting topography is the horseshoe shape valley and the whole park area is surrounded by the spurs of the Mekal. The Surpan River meanders through Kanha's central Maidans, grasslands that cover the extensive plateau. Steep rocky escrapments along the edges offer breathtaking views of the valley

Spotting wild animals is always a matter of luck but Kanha is so rich in wildlife that the odds are titled in your favour. First time visitors are often so keen to spot the larger animals that they overlook the smaller ones. There are 175 varieties of birds in Kanha. So if you happen to be bird watcher, look forward to a full bird show.  But while on a mission to find a tiger, one can easily catch glimpses of all the grazers, a Porcupine, many Gray Langurs, Mongoose, Hyena, Jungle Cat, even a Leopard. Other wild attractions in this Tiger country include varieties of Deer - the Barasingha, Chital or Spotted Deer, Chousingha, Nilgai, as well as the majestic Gaur or Indian Bison and wild Pig.

Afternoon, Jungle Safari

DAY 14  :  KANHA
Morning & Afternoon, Jungle Safari.

DAY 15  :  KANHA - NAGPUR - MUMBAI  (FLIGHT)
Transfer to Nagpur airport to board flight for Mumbai.  Arrive Mumbai, transfer to prebooked Hotel

DAY 16  :  MUMBAI
After breakfast, excursion to Elephanta - About ten kilometers north east of Apollo Bunder lies the island of Elephanta, the glorious abode of Lord Shiva. An epitome of Hindu cave culture, Elephanta consists of seven caves of which the most notable is the Mahesa-murti cave. It has a very impressive size with a main body of 27 meters square supported by rows of six columns each. The main temple consists of a large pillared mandapa (hall) and a freestanding square shrine at the west end of the hall. The pillars and reliefs in the cave are gigantic in scale. Set in various niches are a number of large reliefs depicting different aspects of Shaivaite iconography. Around the perimeter of the cave are sculptured compartments in this cave with images from the Hindu mythology. They depict Lord Shiva as Andhakasuravadha, impaling the demon of darkness, as Kalyanasundara-the gentle loving god, as Ardhanarishwara, Shiva and Shakti, male and female, Nataraja-Shiva as the cosmic dancer and as Ravana anugraha -the destroyer of enemies

Afternoon, half day city tour of Mumbai - The city was called Bombay for much of the last four hundred years. The origin of the name is obscure, but is often said to come from the Portuguese phrase bom bahia meaning "good bay". The name Mumbai has been used in the main local languages for as long, and is ascribed to the local goddess, Mumba (ai means mother in Marathi). The name of the city was changed to Mumbai by an act of the parliament in 1997. Estimated to hold about 15 million people (a census is on in the years 2000-2001), the city has grown dramatically in the last fifty years. Mumbai is called the financial capital of India: the stock exchange is the primary stock exchange of the country; most large business houses have their corporate offices in this city. It also the primary center for the arts and the entertainment industry.

DAY 17  :  DEPART MUMBAI
Transfer to the airport to board your flight for onward destination.

The above tour programme can be modified as per your requirements.  For any modification, please fill in the form below or mail us